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VOICES Staff Member Spotlight: Tiffany Hunter
Meet Tiffany Hunter, Child Enrichment Specialist at Voices for CASA Children
Name: Tiffany Hunter
Current city of residence: Scottsdale
What is your role at Voices for CASA Children?
My role at VOICES is Child Enrichment Specialist. I help distribute Hope Bags and tickets for activities to the CASA volunteers for their CASA children.
How long have you been with the organization?
Just over 2 months
What brought you to work in the child welfare field?
I have been a CASA for 6 years and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in social work. I see the true value in being a CASA to help better foster children’s lives.
What’s your “Why” in “Why CASA”?
My “Why” is for bettering the lives of those who were given an unfair and unfortunate start to their own life, but then being able to help them succeed and become their true self without being defined by their past.
What’s the best part of your job? Why?
I get to have fun providing things like Hope Bags, activities, and essential needs to the hard working CASA volunteers who ultimately provide their CASA children with a sense of normalcy.
What was your first job?
I was the neighborhood babysitter at age 9.
Dogs or cats? Coffee or Tea? Mountains or Beach?
I love all animals and I have both dogs and a cat. I don’t like coffee or tea. And I love the beach (especially to play volleyball).
In what cities have you lived? Which one do you consider “home”?
I have lived in a lot of cities in my life. In Arizona: Paige, Williams, Phoenix, Cottonwood, Cornville, Scottsdale; in California: Malibu, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, North Hollywood, Venice, Brentwood, Hermosa Beach. . “Home” is Scottsdale with my family.
What is your favorite movie?
Sweet Home Alabama
Who inspires you?
Throughout my life I have been most inspired by Ladmo and my mom. Ladmo taught me to be more confident and to believe in myself. And my mom has taught me how to accomplish so many amazing things in my life. She still is a true inspiration everyday.
Would you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert? Extrovert
What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Chocolate!
What is the best advice you have ever received? Treat others the way you wish to be treated & Smile at everyone, it could turn someone’s day around.
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VOICES Staff Member Spotlight: Austin Truitt
Meet Austin Truitt, Development Specialist at Voices for CASA Children
Name: Austin Truitt
Current city of residence: Scottsdale
What is your role at Voices for CASA Children?
I am the Development Specialist
How long have you been with the organization?
Coming up on 3 months
What brought you to work in the child welfare field?
I have been very involved in volunteer work since high school. Throughout college at Arizona State University, I was part of an on-campus organization called Camp Kesem that supports children who have had a parent with cancer. This furthered my passion for helping children, and being able to continue this into my professional life is wonderful!
What’s your “Why” in “Why CASA”?
My “Why” is for bettering the lives of those who were given an unfair and unfortunate start to their own life, but then being able to help them succeed and become their true self without being defined by their past.
What’s the best part of your job? Why?
I say the variety of people I get to interact with. From meeting with potential donors and sponsors, to meeting with CASA’s and hearing their stories of how much being a CASA means to them. It is all very enjoyable and quite rewarding. Within the first month I started working here, I was already on the field meeting Arizona Cardinals players which was amazing!
What was your first job?
I was a baseball umpire at the age of 14! I did that for about two years and then worked as a legal assistant until I left Colorado to attend Arizona State.
Dogs or cats? Coffee or Tea? Mountains or Beach?
Why not both for each?! I love corgis and cats, coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon, mountains in the winter and beach in the summer!
In what cities have you lived? Which one do you consider “home”?
I grew up in Littleton, Colorado, a suburb of Denver 20 minutes west. I have also lived in Prague, Czech Republic, for three months during my study abroad! It is tough which one to call home because I have so many fond memories at each place, though I would still have to say Colorado is my true home.
What is your favorite movie?
Before Sunset by Richard Linklater. I love the fluidity of the movie along with its representation of Paris!
Who inspires you?
My friends and family without a doubt.
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Meet the McConnell’s, Where Love Is Everything
With a heaping cup of compassion and the help of “The Village”, the McConnell Family is evidence of the healing power of love in the lives of youth who need it most.
Sean McConnell is a web designer by profession and an Arizona sports fan by heart. He is also part of the two man team at Kazual Sports Radio Network, an Arizona-based radio station that exists to bring a community voice into the local sports scene as well as be a force for good in the Valley. Aside from the hustle of social media, radio shows, and web programming, Sean is a husband and also a father to three adopted children, a foster child, and two pups. It’s no doubt he and his wife have their hands full with careers, kids, and “fur babies” to tend to!
But Sean’s story is far from average when it comes to fatherhood and raising children.
“We were one of the first in our friend-group to get married, and the first to start a family.” Three years after Sean and his wife, Alex, said “I do”, they decided to look into adoption. “We realized there is such a need for children without families to have a permanent, safe space. So, we looked toward adoption. When we saw that children out there are hurting, especially children with unique needs, we believed we could do something. We chose medically complex cases because they are typically the kiddos that are left behind. We want to make sure that these kids are given the best chance at a normal life. Love can be very healing.”
Sean and Alex began their adoption journey in 2015 with baby Ezaylea. Soon after, her brothers Ethan and Elijah joined the McConnell Family through the adoption process. And soon after that, a baby boy joined as a foster placement. It’s a full house, to say the least, with daily opportunities to utilize the help of a village. All four of the siblings experience varying degrees of emotional and mental challenges, such as high functioning autism, post traumatic stress disorder, and potential for schizophrenia.
“Because of the trauma in early childhood, they’ve needed so much special attention. My wife Alex holds a masters in psychology with a minor in family & human development. She has training in the behavioral health field, which has helped a lot. Our families rallied around us, too. Our parents took them on as their own. It has definitely taken the support of a village to make this happen,” says Sean. “We joke that some days it’s like intercepting a tornado in our living room with our bare hands. But it’s all worth it. If it wasn’t for us, these kids would be somewhere else.”
Sean’s advice for assisting children in need, or making the jump to adoption? “Start small,” he says. “There’s no training that can truly prepare you for it, so open your arms to something small. Take everything one bite at a time, then hold on when it’s a roller coaster; it’s so rewarding! There’s nothing better or greater than seeing something like the help of a village come out to help these kids. There are so many resources out there, you just have to look for them. No baby is perfect; but every baby deserves love.
“Our family–we’re all so different and so similar in many ways. Once these children received services and they help they needed, they were able to accept and give love; it was a huge relief! Now I have these little goofballs, each with varying degrees of sarcasm. They love being active and playing sports (we’re big Arizona sports fans, of course!). We make it a point to spend time that way.”
Sean and Alex’s story holds the essence of service, heart, and the power of community. Similar to the McConnells, Voices for CASA Children believes that it takes a Village to raise our youth. Everyone can do something, be it foster, adopt, advocate, mentor, donate. Interested to learn more about being a voice for an abused or neglected child? Begin the journey by attending an Information Session via the Events page.
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VOICES Staff Member Spotlight: Christine Slomski
Meet Christine, VOICES’ Marketing & Fund Development Manager.
Name: Christine Slomski
Current city of residence: Scottsdale
What is your role at Voices for CASA Children?
I am the Marketing & Fund Development Manager. I’m involved in several aspects of VOICES: Recruitment/Outreach, Marketing/Media Relations, and Fundraising. Mainly, my role is heavily centered on establishing and strengthening the VOICES presence throughout the Valley, and creating broader awareness of the CASA mission. I don’t do it alone, though — there’s a strong, skillful team that works beside me!
How long have you been with the organization?
3 years.
What brought you to work in the child welfare field?
It found me! When I lived in Colorado, I fell into a role at a nonprofit that supports leadership programming for female youth. I was “wowed” by the potential in youth when given tools, support, and opportunities. After moving to Arizona, well, let’s say that VOICES just found me 🙂 I started as a volunteer.
What’s your “Why” in “Why CASA”?
As said, I find it necessary to surround our youth with education, opportunities, a growing toolbox, and support from “the Village”. When these things are in place, children thrive, and in turn our neighborhoods and communities thrive. Translsating this into “Why CASA?”, I believe that a vulnerable child living in foster care can have the course of his or her life change just by having one caring, dependable person — a CASA volunteer.
What’s the best part of your job? Why?
I love strategy and I love creativity! I love creating the annual blueprint for VOICES and then coming up with creative ways to fill in the details. I especially love doing social media and working with media and news stations as part of our public relations initiatives. When on camera, there’s nothing like feeling like your life is flashing before your eyes with a rush of adrenaline when the cameras and lights are on you! This all takes place in a steady, 3-minute interview, but it feels like a blink of an eye!
Dogs or cats? Coffee or Tea? Mountains or Beach?
Dogs! I had them as a kid and I am now a Mama to a bundle of fur-joy named Anna. Coffee in the morning, tea in the evening. Mountains – preferably in Colorado or Montana.
In what cities have you lived? Which one do you consider “home”?
I’ve lived in a few different places, but call Phoenix, Spokane, and especially Denver ‘home’. I’ve experienced major milestones of my life in each city.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Let life unfold. Everything is working out as it should.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Watching “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” or “Modern Love” on Amazon Prime 🙂 And, a glass of (good) wine with friends on patios.
Who inspires you?
My late grandmother, who taught me so much about life. She was the first female college professor in the East Valley in the 1960’s, forging the way for women’s education. She helped a lot of people find their way.
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VOICES Staff Member Spotlight: Diane Gardner
Meet Diane Gardner, VOICES’ Child Enrichment Specialist.
Name: Diane Gardner
Current city of residence: Gilbert
What is your role at Voices for CASA Children?
The BEST role – Child Enrichment Specialist! I get to find ways for CASA volunteers and their children to connect through simple fun, doing something new or sharing a memorable time. Our community (and weather) provides so many opportunities for activities of all kinds for all ages and I love finding ways for our amazing CASAs to share their time and their life with these children.
How long have you been with the organization?
A very quick one year and two months!
What brought you to work in the child welfare field?
After a long, rewarding career in information technology, I am blessed to be able to spend more time serving our community – and love being able to focus on the children helping them find ways to thrive despite the challenges. It truly does take a village.
What’s your “Why” in “Why CASA”?
I am impressed by the impact that a CASA can make in a child’s life; through their consistent presence in the quietest of times or in sharing some of the biggest moments of their lives. The key is the combination of legal strength and amazing heart that CASA volunteers have. They are truly providing a voice so these children can be heard.
What’s the best part of your job? Why?
Finding the perfect “fit” for a child who likes art, loves the zoo or has never been to a baseball game. It’s so much fun to assemble a wide variety of experiences or help them find a partner who can serve them. CASA volunteers are so grateful and appreciative, and we love finding whatever they are looking for! I am also excited about new programs we are developing for youth empowerment and meeting needs that are life impacting.
Dogs or cats? Coffee or Tea? Mountains or Beach?
Definitely dogs – we are dog people! I have two Beagliers that are so much fun. Loved the mountains in my youth, but beaches are getting my vote the older I get.
In what cities have you lived? Which one do you consider “home”?
I grew up in Wyoming, plus lived in Oregon and New Mexico before Gilbert. Home is where family is, and Arizona has truly become our home.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I love a saying that we have on our home office wall: “Follow your heart… but take your brain with you!”
What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
In my former career in IT, when my department (of 100+ members) surprised me one morning wearing t-shirts they had each individually bought that said “Diane’s Work Family” and we posed for a big picture. Information Technology is a demanding and time-intensive career, and that morning I felt my message of “Life balance” and “We’re family” had come home.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Putting together that next party or event: planning, creating and crafting!
What’s something you’ve done, but will never do again?
Rent a six-person quadricycle to “bicycle” through the mountains. With each hill, the bicycle cart weighed even more and only two of us had pedals to move it along. It’s hard to pedal when you are laughing so hard!
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VOICES Staff Member Spotlight: Rosie Ronnow
Meet Rosie Ronnow, VOICES’ Training & Program Manager.
Name: Rosie Ronnow
Current city of residence: Phoenix
What is your role at Voices for CASA Children?
My role at VOICES is CASA Training & Program Manager. I have the pleasure of managing ongoing training opportunities for CASAs, working on retention initiatives and trying to make CASAs feel as amazing, important and appreciated as they are!
How long have you been with the organization?
I have been with VOICES for about a year and a half.
What brought you to work in the child welfare field?
My background is in public health, and before CASA I had mostly worked on global health initiatives in developing settings. When I finished my MPH and moved back to Arizona, I started hearing more and more about foster care, which started my interest in the links between foster care and health outcomes later in life, which led me to apply with CASA. And the rest is history!
What’s your “Why” in “Why CASA?”
Children are the most important members of our society, and every child deserves safety, love and consistency.
What’s the best part of your job? Why?
Since I became involved with CASA, I have always said that they best part of my job is that I get to interact with the best part of our community every day. I believe that everything in life has balance, and that CASA volunteers balance the terrible parts of this system by bringing light and hope not only to children but to the whole child welfare field.
Dogs or cats? Coffee or Tea? Mountains or Beach?
All the animals, coffee, mountains.
In what cities have you lived? Which one do you consider “home”?
Phoenix, Tucson, Cuernavaca, Copenhagen and Melbourne. “Home” is where my family is, which is currently Phoenix!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The way people treat you is a statement about who they, not about who you are.
Being authentic and genuine is way more important than being liked – you’ll never be able to please everyone, and that is OK! As Dr. Seuss says, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
Always be kind!!
What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
A colleague told me once that she hoped her daughter would be like me when she grew up. Having a daughter of my own now, I feel like that is such an honor.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Watching the Bachelor/Bachelorette.
What’s something you’ve done, but will never do again?
I ate tarantulas in Cambodia. Though they didn’t taste terrible, I don’t plan on trying them again!
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What It Takes to Be a CASA Volunteer
Representing a child in court may be the most important thing you ever do. Learn the special skills and time required to make this big impact.
Volunteer work is not a new concept. The usual opportunities include packing grocery boxes at food banks, finding gifts for families in need during the holidays and walking or running in a free T-shirt to raise awareness about X, Y or Z disease. But many want to do more and want to give back in a way that will leave a lasting impact while seeing efforts. A viable solution may be improving young lives by volunteering with children and becoming Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) through CASA of Maricopa County. But what does it truly take to be a CASA volunteer?
It Takes Dedication
More than 9,000 Maricopa County children are currently living in foster care after having been removed from abusive or neglectful situations. The Department of Child Services (DCS) case workers, counselors and guardian ad litems assigned to their cases often have large caseloads. CASA volunteers, on the other hand, typically work one case at a time. They become a constant in a child’s life, getting to know the child and developing a trusting relationship with him or her. Advocates work closely with the child’s DCS case manager, family, teacher, counselor and other professionals involved in the child’s life to ensure child welfare by making recommendations to the court, helping to ensure the child’s educational, medical, emotional and developmental needs are being met.
It Takes Communication Skills
CASAs act as the judge’s eyes and ears throughout a case and report back to the court through written reports and oral testimony. Based on facts gathered through their communication with other professionals on the case, CASAs make recommendations to the judge about what’s in the best interest of the child. CASAs work to bring services to children in a timelier manner. They take in to account the needs expressed by the child and all professionals working the case to provide an objective report to the judge.
It Takes Time
The average child welfare case lasts 18 months, but some go on much longer and CASA volunteers are asked to see them through. After the initial 30-hour training program, CASAs spend an average of 15 to 20 hours a month working their cases — although that can vary depending on the complexity of the case and needs of the child. But that doesn’t mean being a CASA isn’t possible while working a full-time job or having other commitments. In fact, more than half of CASA volunteers are employed full-time. Aside from biweekly visits with a CASA child and court appearances that are typically scheduled every three to six months and occasional meetings with other professionals, most advocacy work can be done through email or by phone. Being a CASA volunteer takes more commitment than some other volunteer opportunities, but it’s worth it. Studies show when compared to children who are not represented by CASA volunteers, children with CASAs are:
- More likely to get the services they need in a timely manner
- Less likely to be moved from placement to placement
- More likely to do better in school
- Less likely to return to care after being reunited with their birth family
- More likely to spend less time in foster care overall
And those are outcomes that make a real difference. If you’re ready to get started, see the first seven steps in becoming a CASA and fill out our online Volunteer Certification Application.
